Releasing hook



- July 3, 1928.

A. w LYDA RELEASING HOOK Filed Aug. 12, 1927 Patented July 3, 1928.

ARTHUR W. LYDA, OF NORTH CANTON, OHIO.

RELEASING HOOK.

Application filed August 12,

My invention relatesto releasing hooks for .life boats and the like, and more particularly .to a releasing :hook adapted to be used upon the raising and lowering cable of a life K boat for automatically releasing the life boat therefrom as the boat touches the surface of ,the Water.

. My prior Patent, No. 1,582,062, for releasable hook for life boats, discloses a releasing hook of the foregoing description which entirely depends upongravity for the operation of the releasing means, and which is not provided with any means for locking the releasing means.

llhe objects of the present improvements are to provide a releasing hook of the above character and adapted to be used upon the free .end of a cable, :usually carried by a davit, for raising and lowering a life boat, and the hookbeing adapted to support the life boat as itis being lowered and provided with spring pressed mechanical means adapted to automatically release the hook from the boat as the boat reaches the surface of the water, and the hook also being provided with locking means preventing improperor undesired operation of the releasing means.

These and other objects may be attained by a construction and arrangement for the improved hook hereinafter described in detail, and a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of the preferred embodiment of the improved releasing hook;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary side elevation thereof as in the direction of the arrows 2-2, Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional view of the locking means for the releasing means, as on line 83, Fig. 2;

F 4, a longitudinal sectional view of the improved hook as on line 1 1,. Fig. 1, the locking means being in position for pre venting the automatic operation of the releasing means; and

Fig. 5, a. similar view thereof, the locking means being in position for permitting operation of the releasing means, and the releasing means being illustrated in full lines in load carrying position, and in dash lines in automatic released position.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

1927. Serial No. 212,484.

'lhe improved automatic releasing hook indicated generally at 10 includes a pair of spaced plates 11 connected adjacent their upper ends as by a boss 12, and each pro vided beyond the boss 12 adjacent their uppercnds with eye apertures 13, by means of which the hook may be connected to a raising and lowering cable for a life boat or the like, not shown.

At their lower ends the plates 11 are preferably connected as by means of a pivot pin 1-1 with the lower end of a curved hook member 15 which is interposed between the plates 11 and is provided with a squared upper extremity 16.

Between the plates 11 and adjacent the lower side of the boss 12, a releasing lever is pivotally connected with the plates as by means of a pivot pin 18; and the lever includes, at one side of the pivot pin 18, a catch arm 19 provided with a downward depending catch tongue 20 normally engaging the squared upper extremity 16 of the releasing hook, and at the other side of the pivot yin 18, the lever 17 includes adownwardly depending stop arm 21 which may be wei hted.

Intermediate the boss 12 and the pivotpin 1 1 the plates 1-1 are connected by upper and lower bearing members 22 and 22 which are provided with suitable apertures in which a plunger 23 is slidably mounted, and the upper end of the plunger is provided, as at 2 1, with a slot and pivot connection with the catch arm 19, while the lower end of the plunger is provided with an outward ly extending pivoted foot 25 normally extending over a projection 26 on the inner edge of the hook 15 adjacent the pin 14.

The plunger 23 is provided with springs means normally tending to force the plunger 23 upward toward the ho 12 and these spring means may include a coiled compression spring 27 spaced between the bearing members 22 and 22 and through which the plunger 23 extends, and one end of the spring 27 abuts against the upper surface of the bearing member 22' and the other end of the spring 27 abuts against a washer 28 which itself abuts a reaction pin 29 provided in the plunger 23.

The releasing lever 17, the spring pressed plunger 23 and its foot 25, constitute the spring pressed automatic releasing means for the hook 15.

For preventing improper or undesired oploo lll)

cillation of the lock shaft 30, the latch.

sockets being preferably connected with each other by an a'rcuate groove 35 having a depth less than the depth of the sockets.

For oscillating the shaft 30 and the latch head 31 an oscillating lever 36 is provided. Intermediatethe plates 11. the shaft 30 is provided at one side with a slot 37 adapted 'to receive the stop arm 21 when the slot 37 is rotated by means of the lever 36 to the releasing position shown in full lines in Fig.

hen the slot 87 is rotated into the locking position shown in full lines in F 4,

the arm 21 of the release lever 17 abuts against the outer cylindric surface of the shaft 30 and is prevented from scillating and raising the tongue 20 from engagement with the squared extremity 16.

A link or eye 38 which may be secured upon the trunnion of a life boat, is normally fitted over the hook 15 and rests upon the plunger foot 25.

Accordingly when the weight of the boat is suspended upon the foot 25 and the hook 15, the plunger will be prevented from being forced by the spring 27 upward to raise the catch tongue 20 from holding engagement With the squared extremity 16 of the hook I member 15.

lVhen, however the locked shaft 30 has been rotated to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, and the downward pull upon the foot 25 has been relieved as by the boat contacting with the surface of the water. the spring 27 then forces the plunger upward and raises the catch tongue 20 out of engagement with the squared extremity 16, allowing the hook member 15 to drop and releasing the eye or link 38 therefrom I claim 1. A releasing hook including a plate for connection with a supporting member, a hook member pivotally connected with the plate, a lever normallyholding the hook member in locked supporting position, a plunger connected to the lever and provided with a foot and arranged to be engaged by a member sustained by the hook member, and spring means for moving the lever out of engagement with the hook member when the pull upon the sustained member is released.

2. A releasing hook including a plate for connection with a supporting member. a hook member pivotally connected with the plate, a lever normally holding the hook member in locked supporting position, a plunger connected to the lever and provided with a foot and arranged to be engaged by a member sustained by' thehook member, spring means for moving the lever out of engagement with the hook member when the pull upon the sustained member is released, and locking means for selectively maintaining the lever in locked supporting position.

In testimony that I claim the above, I

have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARTHUR- WV. LYDA. 

